Electric welding.



0. A. KENYON.

ELECTHlC WELDING. APPLICATIQN FILED MAR. s. 1911.

` Patenfed June 12,1%?.

@@JWW. -f @Mame/M lUN "@TTM@ PATENT FFIQE,

OTIS ALLEN KENYON, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC WELDING.

speciecauon of Letters rate. Patented; J une 12, 191W.

Application tiled March 3, 1917. Serial No. 152,315. y

.To all whom it may concern.' c

I Se it known that I, Oris A. IENroN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county of New York and1 State ofNewiYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricWelding, of whichthe following is a specip ication.

described in my former Patent No.1,181,227,

dated May-2, 1916, and in which system there was introduced thelimitation of arc length by voltage and the elimination of eX- cessiveenergy discharges caused by break-v ing arcs, by eliminating thebreaking' of the arc. i

However, the constant-current closed-circuit system, although havingperfect control lof the heat in the arc due to automaticcurrent-regulation and automatic voltage limitation and elimination ofthe breaking of the arc, is notv a complete solution of the problem,above mentioned, because it cannot be used in certain lines of work,where the different objects to be welded are connected to. a commonground. Under these conditions, a multiple connection of arcs must beused.

The present invention relates primarily to the application of the sameprinciple of cone trol that I have devised for constantcurrentclosed-circuit systems, to constant-potential systems, namely, thecontrolling of the length of the arc by a voltage limitation, adjustableand independent of the voltage of the generator, and extinguishing ofthe arc without breaking.

In constant-current closed-circuit systems, the extinguishing of the arcby short-circuiting is the only way it can be done and maintain a closedcircuit. In constant-potential circuits extinguishing the arc byshort-circuiting, increases the load of the generator; while inconstant-current circuits, the extinguishing of the arc decreases theload of. the generator. Therefore, in constant-potential circuits, Ihave resorted to a momentary short-circuiting of the arc which is justsufficient to kill said arc, and then I break the circuit at anotherpoint after the arc has been extinguished lso that y there is noinductive discharge into the weld.

With the above and other objects in view my present invention consistsof the arrangements, and vcombinations of parts which I will hereinafterdescribe and claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawingwherein- Figure 1 illustrates somewhatdiagrammatically a system ofelectric welding em,- l

bodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar system somewhat modified.

Referring to Fig. 1, A and B` are constant-,potential mains connectedacross the terminals of a constant-potential generator. We will assumethe arc-circuit to be vfrom 1 through a ballast resistor, 2, and the arc3 back to the line at 5. Connected across the terminals of the arc is ashunt wound contactor, 6, and in series with the arc is a contactor, L1,which contactor ma 'be of any evell known and desired type. and 8indicate appropriate circuit-closers having stems, the stem of thecircuit-closer, 7, being controlled by coils 6 and 9 and the stem of thecircuit closer 8 being controlled by thel coil, f1. 10 is a closingswitch the operation of which I will presently describe. i

In operation and referring particularly to the system shown in Fig. 1,and the before described arrangement of the same, before striking an arcat 3, line-potential exists vat the arc. Striking an arc at 3 closes thecir-. cuit at 8 and places the arc voltage across the coil 6. As soon asthe voltage exceeds a predetermined limit,I current through the coil 6,'closes the circuit at 7, shortcircuiting the arc and also the coil, 4.The short-.cir-

cuit at l7v extinguishes the are and drops the connection at 8, thusleaving the coil 6 out of the circuit until the arc is again startedrThe coil 9 is connected on the same contacter as the coil 6so thatthecircuit or connection at 7 can be closed at any time by the closingswitch 10, which may be located on the welding tool.

In practice, the welder would strike an arc and continue tooperate ituntil he either draws too long an arc or Wishes to stop deliberately..In case he draws too long an arc,

the coil 6, short-circuits his arc; in case he I have heretofore setforth and in addition thereto leaves the arc terminals dead, until theWelder desires to begin the welding-operation. In said Fig. 2, the arccircuit l', 2', 3 and 5 is connected across the constantpotential mains,A', B', in shunt with the arc is a contacter coil 6', and in series withthe arc is a circuit-closing device or contactor 8', controlled by coil,4', which'is in Series with the short-circuiting contactor 7 Inoperating the system of Fig. 2, the terminals of the arc, 3', are deaduntil a coil, 14, which holds the contactor or circuitcloser 8', open,is short-circuited, by operating a switch, l5, which closes thecontacter, 8', connecting the arc in the Welding circuit. If the arcterminals are not in contact when this occurs full` voltage will beimpressed across the coil, 6', which will close the contactor, 7', andopen the contactor, 8', the contactor, 7', falling out asl soon as' thecontactor 8 is opened. Therefore, in order to start the arc, theoperator must close the arc, 3', then close the switch, 15, which inturn closes the contactor, 8', and then las the arc is drawn, theWelding Will continue until the predetermined length of the arc isexceeded, when the current through the coilv 6', will short circuit thearc and then open the circuit at 8.

In case the Welder wishes to stop delibereately, the closing of theswitch, 10', will through the coil, 9', accomplish the desired result.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Le ters Patent is 1. In electric Welding, a welding are cir-Copies ci. this patent may be obtained for Lacasse cuit andelectro-responsive means for opening` the arc circuit at a pointexternal to the 'and then opening the arc circuit.

VIn electric. welding, a welding arc circuit, electro-responsive meansfor opening the `arc circuit at a point external to the arc at a4predetermined arc voltage, and means under the control of the welder tostop the arc at will.

(S. In electric welding, a welding arc connected in a constant potentialcircuit, and means controlled by thefvoltage across the arc to shunt thecurrent around the arc at a predetermined Voltage.

7. In electric welding, a welding arc connected in a constantpotentialcircuit, electro-responsive means adapted to momentarily short circuitthe arc at a predetermined arc voltage and then open the arc circuit.

8. In electric welding, a Welding arc connected in a constant potentialcircuit, and electro-responsive means for stopping the arc withoutraising the voltage at 'the arc.

9. In electric welding,'a welding arc circuit adapted to be closed atthe arc before current is passed therethrough, and means for opening thearc circuit at a point external to the arc' at a predetermined arc voltae. Y

10. In electric welding, a welding arc circuit adapted to be closed atthe .arc before current is passed therethrough, means for opening theare circuit at a point external to the arc at al predetermined arcvoltage,

and means under controlof the Welder to stop the arc at will.

In testimony whereof IaliiX my signature.

@TIS ALLEN KENYON.'

live cents cach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. C.

